Book Description

Book Description

Superb illustrations from a rare source provide authentic views of evolving Victorian fashions—from high necklines, elongated bodices, and fitted bonnets to extravagant bustles. The meticulously reproduced plates include depictions of dresses, gowns, and coats as well as accessories. A must for costume designers, cultural historians, and fashion enthusiasts. Introduction. Captions.
... Read more

Reviews (2)

Godey's : A great reference guide
While it would be rare to find a Godey's book with every fashion print in it, this book gives you an excellent variety of the best dresses from Godey's. The descriptions give an idea of color mixes, fabric and decoration. This book is a great reference tool for the Lady Civil War or Mid-Victorian Reenactor or Costume Designer.

Great book....but I can't find our pictures in it!
I have 8 prints that don't appear in the book from 1865-1870. Want to find more info about my prints to include their value (at least an estimate). Pictures in the book are beautiful and pretty true to the actual work...except the real ones have a little "browner" paper. The history in the beginning is also very well done, and helpful in knowing the art. Thanks JoAnne. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Welcome to the FUTURE!
This ia a great book, for science fiction fans or just people interested in future forecasting of the 20th century. The book deals with the ideas, serious or not, of what past artists, scientists and writers thought the future would look like. Cities, cars, airships, rockets, monorails fill the pages of this book, with text which guides you on your tour of the 'future'. Some designs like the floating airports, the car/boat and the monorail HAVE changed reality (for some of us),while other ideas, like the six mile high tower, are not yet available.
My problem, my ONLY problem, with the book is how small it is. At 96 pages it barely covers anything. The chapter on robots is only TWO pages long and only has TWO illustrations. I noticed only ONE underwater city and some drawings, like a few pages on the 'Future City' have no text at all.
Still, it is a great gift for sci-fi fans, future engineers or fans of the cartoon series "Futurama".

Designs for the Twentieth-Century Future
Published in conjunction with the Fall 2000 exhibition organized by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, this volume contains color reproductions of original vintage artworks created to illustrate magazine stories or books. Focusing on the enthusiastic embrace of a particular 20th-century spirit, they form a visual archaeology of industrial and architectural design for the world to come, a historical exploration of the not yet known and the soon to arrive, and a stage for the visionary theater of vintage science fiction and futuristic speculation.

Where's the rest of the book?!
This was my first reaction upon opening the parcel containing this book. Truly, it is a wonderful book; chock full of colourful illustrations and lively text. As such, it is a keeper.
Alas, it simply isn't enough! At 96 pages it is barely longer than a two part magazine article.
Where, for example, are the futuristic designs for the 1939 World's Fair? Or the 1962 World's Fair? Or the 1964 World's Fair?
Where are the designs for seminal 50's sci-fi movies like 'Forbidden Planet'?
Where are the concept drawings for Disneyland's Tomorrowland and Epcot Center?
Where are the space age clothing designs of Rudi Gernreich? Where are'The Jetsons'for crying out loud?
Wherever they are, they are not to be found in the pages of this book. Never has a book created within me such a mixture of delight and colossal disappointment.

Out of Time: Designs for the Twentieth-Century Future
aharlib@worldnet.att.net 'Out of Time: Designs for the Twentieth Century Future' by Norman Brosterman is a glossy 8 X 10" trade paperback which gathers together numerous, rather fascinating and fun images of what has now become standard, even cliched concepts of the future: flying, domed cities; bubble-topped cars; humanoid robots; monorails; rocket ships, etc.---the output of talented American dsigners, artists and illustrators who, in the period covering the 1890s to the mid-1960s, focused their imaginations on rendering 'things to come'. 'Out of Time', utterly enjoyable as a book in its own right, also serves as the catalog of a Smithsonian Institute sponsored 3 year traveling exhibition also curated by author Norman Brosterman, a NY-based writer, architect, artist, and

collector of modern cultural artifacts whose own possessions comprised a considerable proportion of the contents celebrated herein. Interest in this volume is vastly increased due to the fact that few of the orignal water colors, oil paintings aand pen-and-ink drawings which took Brosterman years to track down have ever been displayed for the public before.

Essentially, 'Out of Time' is a wonderful nostalgia trip for those who grew up relishing the old pulp magazines, popular technology periodicals and promotions for the 1939 NY World's Fair. It will be a revelation for later generations who are curious about the work of the "inveterate technodreamers" who imagined an alternative 20th century with visions that had an impact and influence on the real world---in industrial and automotive design, fashion, warfare, the exploration of space, and the arts---that was widespread albeit hardly recognized at the time.

'Out of Time' is not only filled with illustrations (many in full color), but offers substantial text giving the historical context for the visual archeology of industrial, architectural and fanciful design for the world to come. Sections of the book are devoted to: the future as history, as visualized in illustrations for science fiction stories; and the future as style as depicted in architectural designs, renderings of transportation of all types (especially flying machines and space vehicles) and conceptions of

robots. An appendix is also included of brief biographical sketches of the artists whose work can be found in the book---most notably: Frank R. Paul, Alex Schomburg, Alexander Leydenfrost, Cheslay Bonestell, Virgil Finlay and Hannes Bok. There is also a bibliography. Thus we have a book---text and images---that has a cumulative effect of gee-whiz, gosh-wow exuberance. 'Out of Time; is a treasure trove that documents the optimistic imaginations of the writers, designers, architects

and engineers who envisioned the future as if it were already there---making it the perfect gift for science-fiction afficionados, especially those that love illustrations of yesterday's tomorrows, visions that can be---corny, extravagant, misguided, wild, impractical, awesome, quaint or even dead-on accurate. 'Out of Time' should not be out of place on many bookshelves. ... Read more

Book Description

The Graphic Idea Resource series presents good design in an affordable format.Each book in the series presents inspiring, contemporary, graphic design projects, and focuses on a single area of design technique.With examples of finished work ranging from brochures to packaging to self-promotion, this series is a valuable resource for designers working in any specialty.

Good graphic design can be a powerful force behind the sale of products, companies, or a service.Graphic Idea Resource: Promotion presents the finished designs and the creative process of the designers who are making sales for their clients and themselves. This book presents outstanding work by top market-savvy designers showing finished graphics which have increased sales for the client.

Great design and commercial smarts is a combination that makes a graphic design business succeed and this collection provides both the inspiration and the insider information from working designers who have achieved success. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Gorgeous, but not what I was after
Ive loved the work of syd mead ever since I first saw the movie blade runner. Since then I knew I wanted to be a concept artist. So I figured, what better way of becoming one, than studying the art of the masters? Hence, I bought this book.

Only giving this book 3 starts feels kinda sad, since the works are gorgeous and the concepts, amazing! nevertheless... I was searching for rougher material... less color, more testy stuff. For you who want to be inspired as a concept artist, as I did, buy some "the art of starwars" books instead, they rule. On the other hand, if youre just lookin for a bunch of pretty work. BUY THIS.

Phenomenal views of future possibilities!
I recently got this book, and absolutely loved it. If you're of a futurist bent, and thirst for views of how things *might* be, then this is a book for you.

The illustrations are lavish, and the explanations of the design concepts behind the art give you a better idea of some of the planning that has gone into the picture, as well as possible avenues for future construction technologies.

I'm hooked. I have another book on order, and am saving up for other books of his. (He also has a mailing list. I got details in a flyer tucked into my copy of this book...)

A must-have for industial design students and illustrators
Syd Mead sometimes calls himself a "futureist" and his credits in the sci-fi classic Blade Runner read "Visual Specialist". This is an amazing collection of Syd Mead's visual art of the future and is not only beautiful to look at but is an intelligent view of future machinary and cuture. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Fashion Book For Rest Of Us
This beautifully produced coffee-table book arose from a fashion exhibit held by the Victoria & Albert Museum in the early 1990s. I can't say enough about the layout, photography, and amazing color throughout the book. While the exhibit curators obviously labored mightily to put the exhibit together, the book manages to catalog it all in an enthralling way. A bit expensive for people like me, but you should definitely find a copy to browse through if nothing else. ... Read more

Book Description

Here's endless inspiration for graphic artists working on cover designs, page layouts, letterheads, cards, posters and publicity. More than 100 captivating examples are featured in large spreads including information on the designer, specs, production process and client needs.

Page Layout is divided into three intriguing sections: Type Without Limits, a collection of typography-driven designs that challenge and redefine approaches to layout; The Image at the End, a showcase demonstrating how the power of photography, illustration and manipulated images can impact the direction of a design; and The Extra Dimension, a portfolio of work that pushes the envelope to get results. Includes examples of work that utilize special printing techniques, die cuts, foil colors, unique binding, papers and other materials.

Roger Walton is the Art Director at Duncan Baird Publishers and the editor of Typographics 1, 2 and 3, Hot Sites, Cool Sites, and Sites for Sound. He lives in London, England. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Nice examples
If you learn about design from reading, this book isn't for you. It teaches by giving visual examples. The text does nothing more than analyze the design. It has the same feel as an award book. The work is outstanding and worldwide, but mostly from the UK. The writing is decent but mostly lacks depth. The examples, devine. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Good beginner book but not the best for its price
I must admit that I am not too keen on this book. Although it doesn cover the basics of fashion illustration I just don't think its a great illustraton book. Its a great referance don;t get me wrong but I know for a fact that Bina Abling's Fashion Sketchbook (the most recent veersion) has a heck of alot more than this book and it may be a bit pricer (just buy it used!) but The Fahsion Skecthbook it well worth it. TRUST ME!

Great 4 Beginners!!
I am intrested in fashion design and this book has helped me to learn how to draw the figure and face, etc. If you are a beginner in fashion design this should be your first book to get. This book is a keeper!!

Insightful techniques and easy to grasp concepts
I did not realize how resourceful a book this was until I actually sat down and looked through it. I had this book and another fashion illustration book (by Kathryn Hagen) for six months and all this time, I was referencing the other book only to gain insignificant knowledge of fashion illustration. While the other book contains beautifully drawn illustrations, it did little to enlighten me to the techniques, which is important when learning.

I didn't look through Steven Stipelman's book before because I deemed it boring and uninteresting based on a brief flip through. When I actually sat down to start reading it, it all seemed to make sense. What Mr. Stipelman does that other books on this topic fail to really do is to talk about technique and concepts. He outlines standards for drawing croquis (working sketch) in steps, which is a must because a croquis is a foundation for fashion illustrations and will eventually lead to a final drawing.

He also applies the step by step explanation of how to do different poses and how clothing rests on the body in different ways. A big bonus is that he also provides a historical background wherever he can to each section because each period of time had its own ideal for "the" silhouette or body type. It really just ties in well because you get a broader understanding of fashion's past and its relation to the current ideals of fashion.

Whereas some fashion illustration books merely display pages of illustrations done by the author or professionals in the fashion industry, this book is written and arranged in such a way that you feel you're actually in the classroom being taught one-on-one all that it takes to illustrate fashion effectively and beautifully.

excellent
Oh, I've just received the book, the illiustrating skill is excellent, but it would be much better if can publish with colour, since steven's painting is very beautiful also !!!!

Great guide to illustrating the clothed figure
This book is a great resource for anyone who wants to learn figure drawing and clothing. I am studying costume design and found this book to be a great help to me though it is written for fashion illustration. He shows how to draw the basic figure and head as well as other details such as patterns and knits. There is even a chapter on Jewelry!

When I recieved it I was pleased to find that it is a well-bound sturdy (text)book that will survive frequent use and reference on my desk. Though there aren't any color drawings or examples (you will have to find another place to learn about painting and such) this a fantastic book that includes everything else. Another reviewer pointed out that all of the drawings in this book are from the author, which is maybe a bit disappointing, but you don't have to look very far to find other books or magazines with examples.

Though these few things are missing, this book has everything that you need to know to draw the fashion figure, especially if you already have some experience with the art media you wish to use. ... Read more

Book Description

This incredible book houses a collection of 100 swipeable layouts that readers can use to create their own pieces--everything from newsletters and ads to letterheads and brochures.An invaluable introductory section reviews the core techniques for creating layouts. Next, designers are introduced to the layouts themselves.Each layout includes a full background on the piece, the reasoning behind each solution and details on how special constraints were handled. In many instances, several solutions are given to the same problem, illustrating that there is always more than one way to solve a layout and design problem. This book also includes: * Quick access to dozens of layout solutions including specs * Special techniques that can be used to enhance any layout * Insights into the factors that helped to make each layout an effective piece * Tips and advice for dealing with common problems such as working within client restrictions and handling ads with lots of visuals ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Organised and easy to follow
The book caters to a fairly broad audience, i.e. from those who might be quite new to the desktop publishing field right up to those who have been in the profession for years and are simply after a few fresh ideas. The book has been divided up into easy-to-walk-though chapters, each one discussing a different form of popularly used printed material, giving examples of very basic layout concepts to the more complex.

I found the book quite useful, but not necessarily new and exciting in its approach. Nevertheless it's a good one to have in your library.

Will Help Refine Your Design And Layout Skills!
     The World Wide Web is a visually-oriented broadcast medium dependent upon masterful graphic image and textual design and layout. The placement of every image and text character must be carefully considered to bring about optimum results. Alan Swan has written How to Understand and Use Design and Layout to provide a visual guide to essential layout and design concepts.

     The author states at the very outset that he desires to develop creative vision and judgment to enable his readers to distinguish between the strong and weak methods of presenting design ideas. Thoughtfully thumbing through this book will definitely help refine design and layout skills that can last a lifetime. The arrangement of items within each and every illustration will go a long way to provide inspiration for further design work.

     Although this book was not intended at all to address online publishing, the concepts beautifully illustrated throughout the book are directly applicable. It contains a number of book, magazine, and newsletter ideas that can be used to create professional grade online publications. The author incorporates a number of color graphic images, photographs, and text to illustrate a variety of layout options. Readers are free to decide for themselves which layout design suits their own particular needs. They are free to create their own as well!

     This book is ideally suited for businesses and organizations that specialize in producing online publications or for those persons who desire to go it alone. The quality of the entire publication is top-notch! So will your own work be if you follow its valuable instruction!

An Educational Experience in Layout Design!
     The Internet is becoming the most influential broadcast medium in existence today. It is a powerful tool. With the right computer equipment and software anyone can become an online publisher. Want to create online publications such as newsletters and advertisements? Graham Davis has written Quick Solutions to Great Layouts to provide examples of newsletter, brochure, stationary, and advertisement layout patterns.

     Although this book was not intended to deal with online publishing, the concepts are directly applicable. This hardback book measures 8 3/4" by 11" and contains a number of newsletter samples that can be used to create effective online publications. This style is ideally suited for businesses, non-profit organizations, and schools that already publish newsletters for distribution to their clients and subscribers. This could mean big business if someone is up to it!

     The author provides a variety of newsletter samples, progressing fro! m simpler layouts to more advanced ones. Along the way the reader should pick up more insight into what it takes to put a newsletter together. I was most impressed with those descriptive comments at the edges of each page that offered explanations why certain type faces, justification, and other design elements were selected. This book emphasizes theory rather than merely providing sample layouts. A lot of detail has been provided, making this book an educational experience.

     This is a great idea book that will serve a variety of company needs. For instance, Website designers and other online businesses can use this book to produce printed newsletters, brochures, and stationary that can be used to promote themselves. Website designers could produce an impressive marketing package consisting of a Website and coordinated printed promotional literature for their clients as well!

     There is a sample in this book for every need. Take them as they are or build upon them. ! Either way you'll win! ... Read more

Book Description

This guide to the ins and outs of today's dynamic illustration business tells budding illustrators everything that their teacher didn't know or their art director didn't tell them. Using an entertaining, running narrative format to look at key concerns every illustrator must face today, this book covers finding one's unique style and establishing a balance between art and commerce; tackling issues of authorship and promotion; and more. In-depth perspectives are offered by illustrators, art directors, and art buyers from various industries and professional levels on such issues as quality, price negotiation, and illustrator-client relationships. ... Read more

Book Description

This beautiful book surveys the evolution of botanical illustration from the crude scratchings of paleolithic man down to the highly scientific work of 20th-century illustrators. With 186 magnificent examples, over 30 in full color. "A classic ... the first book to give us a complete picture of the history of flower illustrations as a whole"—The Sunday Times (London). "The text is as interesting and lively as the illustrations."—The Spectator.
... Read more

Book Description

Drawn from work created for books, comics, magazines, art galleries, advertisements, and the portfolios of some of the finest contemporary artists in the field, Spectrum 9 has a wider reach than any previous volume, with work from the U.S., Germany, England, the Netherlands, Spain, Japan, Canada, and France. Divided into seven categories, including one devoted to comics, the book includes James Gurney (Dinotopia), Brom (designer of the films Sleepy Hollow and Scooby-Doo), Michael Whelan (ten-time Hugo Award winner), Leo and Diane Dillon (Caldecott and Coretta Scott King Award recipients), and many more. Contact information for each artist is provided in a handy index, and the editors’ lengthy illustrated "Year in Review" preface puts the entire field in focus. 300 full-color images are featured. "A feast for the eyes and the imagination." — New Times ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Real Art..
This book is like a kick-ass mobile art gallery. Anyone interested in some cool artists with real talent that you can't find in museums or galleries should have this edition on their coffee tables or on their mantles. A visual cornicopia of excellently presented ideas compiled in a book that will have you closely staring at the pages. Really cool.

Consistent with the series.
Not unlike the other titles in the Spectrum series, Spectrum 9 provides a great overview of contemporary fantastic art, the best emerging artists, new trends, and samples of the forever-loved art. The artwork is much better documented with sources listed for further study of fantastic art.

If you've ever admired a cover on a sci-fi book, cool credits in a fantasy movie, or even action figures of your favorite super heroes, this book might be for you. The nice thing about the Spectrum series is that you do not need to reach for a specific volume to look at specific form of art. Each volume offers a pretty even and ,personally I think, good cross section of the current fantastic art and design.

Spectacular, As Usual
I have been patiently waiting (OK, maybe not so patiently) since November for Spectrum 9 to be released. Even though I had to wait an extra month and a half, it was well worth the wait. Once again, the Spectrum series provides us with the best in contemporary and fantastic art, and it IS fantastic. Entries range from weird, to gory, to funny, to beautiful. I began this series with Spectrum 8, then bought 7. Unfortunately, the other 6 are out of print (and cost a pretty penny), but these 3 will do. If you like sci-fi/fantasy art, this is the book for you. There's something for everyone, and in my opinion, there is not one bad painting in the whole book. Buy this today - you will get more than your money's worth. ... Read more

Book Description

GH avisualagency(tm) is a collective of five individuals who work in the area where art and design overlap. Starting out as Graphic Havoc ten years ago, the agency has consistently explored the collaborative process and brought an artistic slant to their projects and designs for such clients as Adidas, the Cartoon Network, Nike, and the HEFTY and WARP record labels. Images and descriptions of the work in all media and styles are included, along with a statement of the agency's philosophy and a look at its past and future. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (1)

French Tart
Another great little book in the Universe of Fashion series! Christian Lacroix is one of the more "avantgarde" designers and apart from his "Notebook", there is nothing else available about him so it is great to be able to see some of Lacroix's bright and witty clothes here. A fabulous introduction to one of fashion's "alternatives"! ... Read more

Book Description

Science fiction imagery can open our minds to worlds. Jim Burns’ intriguing illustration for The Ceremonies, which combines human figures with an evocative landscape, resonates powerfully with eerie lighting, unusual colors, beautifully characterized faces, and multiple narrative levels. Other fascinating works include the golden-toned cover for Born with the Dead and the cityscape for Rendezvous with Rama 3.
... Read more

Reviews (1)

The Guy Who Painted Pictures of the Movie in My Head...
Okay, so I know I said lots of good things about this amazing artist already, in my review of his collection "Transluminal", but it bears repeating, especially when I just found out that "Lightship" was back in print. This book shows off a lot of the great work from Jim Burns's early career, and is worth daydreaming over for hours on end. Many British covers are featured, stuff that never made it across the sea to American bookshelves. I am personally most fond of the interpretations of Jack Vance, which for me captured the essential spirit of this master of exotic adventure SF. But I also enjoy all the Silverberg covers, all of which which evoke a sense of futuristic decadence and wild tech run amok. Nobody is as good at turning Mr. Silverberg's wonderfully descriptive prose into jaw-droppingly gorgeous imagery, and when I think of Majipoor I think of Burns's baroque architecture and ornate flying cars, as well as his mysteriously beautiful ladies and aliens. If only more SF movies could look half as good as these paintings; if only more production designers would fess up and admit that they've been ripping off Burns for years. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

More than just pictures!
I picked up this book, expecting to find essentially a picture book. However, this book is so much more...and it is lovely.

The book begins with an introduction by Leonard Marcus, the children's book reviewer for Parenting Magazine and a well-known book critic and historian.

Following this is an autobiography with many personal photos. I found the story of Carle's early years interesting: how he was born in the United States but then his parents returned to Germany when he was six. His father was drafted into the German army during World War II and Carle never saw him again for 8 years, when he emerged from a Russian POW camp weighing 80 pounds. Carle was a lackluster student, mainly because his creativity was stifled, but he did have some empathetic art teachers in Germany. In his early 20s he returned to the U.S. where he was promptly drafted into the army!

The next section of this book was by Ann Beneduce, the first editor to publish Carle's work. She first commissioned him to illustrate a cookbook. After that, she decided to publish his first book "1,2,3 to the Zoo" but could find no one in the United States who could satisfactorily produce it, so she had it done in Japan.

Next, Viktor Christen, a German editor, wrote about Carle's vision and what it means to children.

Takeshi Matsumoto, the director of an art museum for picture books in Japan, wrote an essay about Carle's use of color.

The text of a speech, entitled "Where Do Ideas Come From?", given by Carle at the Library of Congress was the next section of this book. He gave this speech to librarians and educators in 1990 at the International Children's Book Day Celebration.

Next was a photo essay on his technique of paper coloring and collaging, which also explained why he colors white tissue paper rather than buying pre-colored papers (they fade with age).

Lastly was a section of illustrations from his books, in chronological order. I found it interesting to see how his art had changed and become much more detailed in 30 years.

Eric Carle's books "do special things" read all about them!
Inspiration is the first word that comes to mind after reading about Eric Carle's successful life as an author and illustrator. This book contains information about his childhood, his books, but most important his art. I especially enjoyed reading the section about where he gets his ideas. What is so special about Eric Carle's books? Many people all over the world could answer that question. My favorite answer is from a little boy named Paul, he said: "One reason I like your books is they do special things." ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (2)

if you can't afford the real posters
i collect posters.
i love posters.
for some of the posters, this will be as close as i'll get unless i win the lottery.
a great present to your friends or to yourself.

Who could ask for anything more?
An an interior designer and a collector of antique posters, I completely rely on this book. Roger Marx brings to us an amazing selection of posters ranging from whimsical prints to dramatic and romantic pieces as well as thorough information on each piece. Featured on the cover is my most treasured posession. ... Read more

Book Description

Best known for their bold and spirited design sense, Big Active have built a formidable international reputation in the areas of music and editorial graphics. Believers in the seductive spirit of collaboration, the London-based studio is associated with a number of influential illustrators and photographers. The creative synergy of these image-makers with the core design team is an essential part of Big Active’s aesthetic and way of working.

Playing with a theme of seduction and pleasure, this book explores the sexier fantasies of commercial art and its application. It presents current artwork and commercial projects that demand to be appreciated by the head, heart AND hips.Although it also features some classic images, the volume primarily contains specially commissioned new work by Big Active and their associated collaborators.

Head, Heart and Hips offers an alluring and colorful landscape of ideas, styles and applications. It includes sections by Jasper Goodall, David Foldvari, Kristian Russell, Shiv, Kate Gibb, René Habermacher & Jannis Tsipoulanis, Simon Henwood, Vava Ribeiro, Daniel Stier, Will Sweeney, Geneviève Gauckler, Patrick Ibanez, Mat Maitland, Kam Tang, Rachel Thomas and Erwan Frotin. Each artist is fully profiled with insights and explorations into future possibilities for the application of their artwork. ... Read more